Making Home Afforable Program for Struggling Home Owners

Posted onMarch 24, 2009|Comments Off on Making Home Afforable Program for Struggling Home Owners

Making Home Affordable Program for Struggling Home Owners

Act now to get the help you need through the Making Home Affordable
Program. This part of the President’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan was created to help millions of homeowners refinance or modify their mortgages to a payment that is affordable, both now and in the future.

If you can no longer afford to make your monthly loan payments, you may qualify for a loan modification to make your monthly mortgage payment more affordable.

Millions of borrowers who are current, but having difficulty making their payments and borrowers who have already missed one or more payments, may be eligible.

Am I eligible for a Home Affordable Modification?

Answer these questions:

Is your home your primary residence?

Is the amount you owe on your first mortgage equal to or less than $729,750?

Are you having trouble paying your mortgage?

For example, have you had a significant increase in your mortgage payment or reduction in your income since you got your current loan or have you suffered a hardship that has increased your expenses (like medical bills)?

Did you get your current mortgage before January 1, 2009?

Is your payment on your first mortgage (including principal, interest, taxes, insurance and homeowner’s association dues, if applicable) more than 31% of your current gross income?

If you have answered yes to all of these questions, you may qualify for a loan modification program. Only the servicer of your loan can tell you if you qualify. To qualify, you will generally need to show that you have adequate income to make the reduced payments on an ongoing basis and that modification is an appropriate option given the characteristics of your mortgage and the value of your home.

The next step is to gather the information you will need when you speak to a housing counselor or the servicer of your mortgage. The number should be on your statement.

This includes:

Information about the monthly gross (before tax) income of your household, including recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources.

Checklist:

Your most recent income tax return.

Information about your savings and other assets

Information about your first mortgage, such as your monthly mortgage statement.

Information about any second mortgage or home equity line of credit on the house.

Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on all of your credit cards.

Account balances and monthly payments on all your other debts such as student loans and car loans.

A letter describing any circumstances that caused your income to be reduced or expenses to be increased (job loss, divorce, illness, etc.) if applicable.

If you are struggling with making your mortgage payment, seek the advice from your mortgage servicer to see if your qualify for any government loan modification programs. If not, seek out an experienced Realtor who specializes in short sales.